Over the course of the twentieth century, the United States emerged as a global leader in conservation policy—negotiating the first international conservation treaties, pioneering the idea of the national park, and leading the world in creating a modern environmental regulatory regime. And yet, this is a country famously committed to the ideals of limited government, decentralization, and strong protection of property rights. How these contradictory values have been reconciled, not always successfully, is what Kimberly K. Smith sets out to explain in The Conservation Constitution—a book that brings to light the roots of contemporary constitutional conflict over environmental policy. In the mid-nineteenth century, most Progressive Era conservation policies would have been considered unconstitutional. Smith traces how, between 1870 and 1930, the conservation movement reshaped constitutional doctrine to its purpose—how, specifically, courts and lawyers worked to expand government authority to manage wildlife, forest and water resources, and pollution. Her work, which highlights a number of important Supreme Court decisions often overlooked in accounts of this period, brings the history of environmental management more fully into the story of the US Constitution. At the same time, illuminating the doctrinal innovation in the Progressives’ efforts, her book reveals the significance of constitutional history to an understanding of the government’s role in environmental management.

This book presents a critical analysis of India's environment pollution and protection scenario, following the ‘State-Pressure-Response’ framework to analyze the parameters of conservation. It advocates that the role of environmental law should not be restricted to mere prevention and control of pollution but should encompass conservation and regeneration of natural resources too. The book also reflects on India’s management policy regarding resource conservation and highlights the international laws on arbitration in environmental matters. It is a one stop reference for all debates and discussions on environment with a global perspective.

Over the course of the twentieth century, the United States emerged as a global leader in conservation policy—negotiating the first international conservation treaties, pioneering the idea of the national park, and leading the world in creating a modern environmental regulatory regime. And yet, this is a country famously committed to the ideals of limited government, decentralization, and strong protection of property rights. How these contradictory values have been reconciled, not always successfully, is what Kimberly K. Smith sets out to explain in The Conservation Constitution—a book that brings to light the roots of contemporary constitutional conflict over environmental policy. In the mid-nineteenth century, most Progressive Era conservation policies would have been considered unconstitutional. Smith traces how, between 1870 and 1930, the conservation movement reshaped constitutional doctrine to its purpose—how, specifically, courts and lawyers worked to expand government authority to manage wildlife, forest and water resources, and pollution. Her work, which highlights a number of important Supreme Court decisions often overlooked in accounts of this period, brings the history of environmental management more fully into the story of the US Constitution. At the same time, illuminating the doctrinal innovation in the Progressives’ efforts, her book reveals the significance of constitutional history to an understanding of the government’s role in environmental management.

The book ‘Forest Rights Act – Accelerated Deforestation’ has highlighted the disastrous consequences of enactment and implementation of “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and Rules, 2008” on the forests of the country. With graphic details taken from the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Karnataka, the book has recounted how this Act and the Rules, introduced during the UPA regime ostensibly for setting right historical injustice, have triggered decimation, fragmentation and degradation of millions of hectares of forest in a span of just a decade and a half. The book has also underscored the role of aggressive politicians, scheming activists and pliant bureaucrats in the implementation of the FRA which in a roundabout manner has facilitated regularization of unauthorized forest encroachments, virtually negating the benefits accrued from the historic Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980. It has also questioned the open-ended nature of the Act with no last date for claiming rights under it, which has resulted in opening floodgates for fresh encroachment of forest land throughout the length and breadth of the country. Given the far-reaching and beneficial influence of the forest ecosystems on the life and future of humankind, and also considering the ominous implications of the FRA on the country’s shrinking forests, already on the brink of an ecological disaster, the book has recommended repeal of the Act.